Glensheen Historic Estate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chester and Clara Congdon Estate
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Lake side view of Glensheen
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3300 London Rd. Duluth, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1905–08 |
| Architect | Clarence H. Johnston, Sr.; Charles W. Leavitt, Jr. |
| Architectural style | Jacobean Revival |
| Website | https://glensheen.org/ |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001057 |
| Added to NRHP | August 15, 1991 |
Glensheen, the Historic Congdon Estate is a large mansion in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It is run by the University of Minnesota Duluth as a historic house museum. This means people can visit it to learn about its history.
Glensheen sits on 12 acres of land right on Lake Superior. It has 39 rooms and was built in the Jacobean style. This style was popular in the early 1900s. The mansion was the family home of Chester Adgate Congdon.
A Minnesota architect named Clarence H. Johnston Sr. designed the building. The inside was designed by William A. French Co. The beautiful gardens were planned by the Charles Wellford Leavitt firm. Building started in 1905 and finished in 1908. The home cost about $854,000 back then. This would be more than $22 million today. Glensheen is a great example of design and craftsmanship from the early 20th century in the Midwestern United States.
Inside Glensheen
The inside of Glensheen shows many different styles. These include Late Victorian, Arts and Crafts, and Art Nouveau. William French designed the furniture for each room. The furniture matches the style of the room.
The rooms have walls made of fancy woods. These include Circassian walnut, mahogany, and cypress. Some rooms have fumed oak or enameled birch. The furniture in each room is made from the same wood as the walls. Most of the original furniture is still in the house. It has been there for over 110 years.
Some of the wall coverings and fabrics are also original. The hallways have special designs carved into the wood. They also have stenciling in the Arts and Crafts style. The walls and ceilings are covered with wool, silk, or gold leaf. The doors are special too. They have oak on the hallway side and a different wood on the room side.
Chester Congdon had a large art collection. His paintings still hang in the house today. They are in the same places as when his family lived there. The collection includes works by many American artists. There is also a silk embroidery by a Japanese artist named Watunabe.
Besides the main mansion, the estate has other buildings. These include a Carriage House, a Gardener's Cottage, and a Boathouse. The Boathouse is right on Lake Superior.
Glensheen's History
In 1968, the Congdon family gave the estate to the University of Minnesota Duluth. The university now owns and takes care of it.
Elisabeth Congdon was Chester Congdon's youngest daughter. She was allowed to live at Glensheen until she passed away. After her death, the mansion opened to the public in 1979.
For many years, the third floor and attic were closed. This was due to safety reasons. But in 1992, these areas were opened for small group tours. Glensheen is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical site.
